The Lycan King’s Hybrid Queen
Chapter 37

Tyler

Emori.

For one hundred and twenty years, I have wondered what her name was. I've gone through thousands of names. Every woman I met, I wondered if my mate's name could be the same. I've never met anyone with the name Emori before. I like it; it's different. Emori is still as beautiful as the day I met her. Even lying on her side on that old couch, looking like death, she's a Goddess. I don't like that she's wearing hardly anything, tiny shorts and a baggy T-shirt that's miles too big for her. Goddess knows whose clothes they are, but I'm hoping Starr's. I don't think I could take smelling another man on my mate. I hate that everyone can see my mate like this!

"Ty?" Thane takes my arm. "What's going on?"

"I thought she wanted you dead, that she was a traitor. It didn't matter how I felt when I saw her, she had to be punished. But what I saw... She was trying to keep you safe. She gave up her life for you."

Thane looks at me curiously. I know everyone else has eyes on me, but I pay them no mind.

"My... mate."

"I know," Lyric replies softly. "We're going to replace him. I promise, Auntie."

"He..."

I close my eyes, and more tears fall. I can't stop them. I let those people do this to Emori because I was being loyal to my brother, my King. Oh, how I wanted to scream at Thane that day in the courtyard when he had Emori around the throat, 'Take your filthy hands off my mate!' But I couldn't because she was a traitor, or so I thought. Only she wasn't, and now, I'm going to lose her, in the forever sense.

I always wondered if Emori would come back to me. The kiss we shared bound us in a way that meant I'd always know if she was alive out there. I didn't know where or what she was, but I knew she was there.

That's why I waited all these years for Emori to return to me; now she has, and I'm losing her. I don't think I'll survive that, not this time.

'Tyler,' My Lycan whimpers. He's been weak since the day Emori was thrown into the dungeon. Where I knew the King was right to do what he did, Axel wanted his mate. I could barely contain him in the beginning. He fought me, and that's why I left. Though we were supposed to be miles away, Axel forced me home sooner than he should have. Axel gave up when I wouldn't give in and go to Emori. 'Please, don't let her die; I'm begging you! "He's... here..."

"Here?" Lyric's head turns towards the door. "Where?"

"Here," I whisper, though everyone heard it, and all eyes are on me again. "I'm her mate."

"And you stood there and said nothing?" Lyric screeches.

At the same time, Theo yells, "What the fu.ck, Ty!? Oh, my Goddess. That's how you got that scar, isn't it?" He points to the scar on my face. "She attacked you?"

I nod my head. It's the truth, after all.

"How could you keep this from me of all people?!" Thane bellows, causing everyone but Lyric to bow in submission.

"I was hurt, Thane. I'm not talking about this," I point to my face. "I mean in here," I point to my heart. "Because she wasn't with me. I didn't know her name, and I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me. I got on with my life and became the best I could be, waiting and hoping Emori would come back to me." "This is why no one has seen you with a girl for decades longer than we've been alive?"

I stare at Thorin and raise my eyebrow. Indeed, I haven't touched a woman since the day I met my mate one hundred and twenty years ago. Hell, I've never touched a woman, period.

How pathetic does that make me?

"Wow, and here we were, thinking you were a closet gay." Tane laughs.

He slams his mouth shut when Thane growls. "How the hell are you still standing here?"

"No! Please, no!" Lyric's screams have me dropping to my knees. Emori is gone, and I never got to hold her.

Why didn't I go to her?

Howls of sadness and pain rip from my throat, shaking the foundations. Too much talking is going on around me, crying women and men trying to get through to me. But I don't want to hear it!

With Axel up front with me, we crawl as fast as possible to get to Emori. As gently as possible, I slide my arms under her fragile body and lift her onto my lap. She's lifeless, and I sob as I touch her bruised face.

My tears land on her cracked lips. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

'Do it now. Axel grumbles. 'She still has a tiny speck of life left in her body. Bite her; let my venom into her veins. Change her, Ty!'

Thane will kill me if I do this because I'll give him no choice but to hand over his blood, but first, I need Emori's permission. I don't care what Thane will do to me; I have to keep my mate alive, no matter the cost.

All my life, I have been by my brother's side. I may not have wanted to be his Gamma, but I have been loyal. I have done everything he ever asked of me and never asked for anything in return. I have always been selfless, but I'm asking, no, taking this one thing for myself. Consequences be damned!

I brush Emori's limp hair away from her bare shoulder, move my arm slightly so her head tips back, and lean in. "I don't know if you can hear me, but my name is Tyler. I am your mate, and I need your permission. There's only one way for us to be together, Emori. Let me change you so you'll be like me. Please."

Emori groans quietly, but I hear the faint "Yes." That's all I need.

"We will be together," I whisper in her ear. "One way or another. I love you, only you, always you, my Emori."

"I..." I close my eyes as she gasps so quietly I can barely hear her, even with my Lycan hearing. "Love... you... always."

A tear falls from my eyes, and I let Axel take the reins. My canines drop, and Axel sinks them into the flesh between Emori's shoulder and neck, her marking spot.

Lyric screams. Someone else grabs my shoulder, and I subconsciously let out my power to repel everyone in the room, knocking them all away from me.

'It's working, Tyler! The venom is deep in her veins and bloodstream. Now seal the wound.

Releasing my teeth from Emori's neck, I lick the wound to seal it. Because of her fragile state, the mark is nothing more than angry and raised. If this works, I'll put my permanent mark on Emori's neck one day.

"Did you just change her without her permission?!" Theo shrieks.

Changing one's mate without the mate's permission is punishable in any way the King sees fit. Changing your mate without the King's permission means death to you and your mate. I don't answer Theo because I don't have the chance. "What the fu.ck have you done?"

"Saved my mate. Did you think I wouldn't?" I look at Thane, towering over me. "I have always been loyal to you, always by your side, and I have never asked for anything. But I'm asking you now, as my brother as well as my King, please help me save her. I won't survive losing her like this. I won't last an hour; I promise you that." Thane groans while raking his fingers through his collar-length hair. "Please, Thane," Starr lets out a sob. "I don't want to lose my brother."

Thane looks from Starr to his mate. Tears stream down her face as she mouths, 'Please.' Thane groans loudly. He doesn't want to do this, but he's a sucker for his mate. What she wants, he'll provide.

He gets to his knees next to Emori's head, grabs her head, and tips it back. With his finger and thumb, he pries Emori's mouth open, bites his wrist, and forces blood into her mouth. More blood than the required drop, that's for sure.

Thane holds Emori's mouth closed, and I gently rub her throat, hoping she'll swallow. She does, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Thane closes his eyes and begins to chant, asking Selene and Fenrir to bless my mate with her own Lycan. I don't know what I'll do if they disagree.

'Please,' I pray in my mind. 'Hear my prayer. Give unto my mate the chance to live as Lycan folk. For all her selfless sacrifices, allow her to live with love and honor.'

Without warning, Emori begins to scream, thrashing about while levitating in the air. Thane drags me to my feet, pulling me away. My mouth and eyes are wide in shock. I've never witnessed this before, so I don't know what to expect, but I know this is the moment Selene and Fenrir accept or reject Emori as a Lycan. "What's happening to her!?" Lyric's yelling is drowned out by Emori's screams, turning into howls.

Still flat on her back in the air, I watch as the ghost-like form of a beautiful white Lycan disappears inside Emori. It worked! I look at Thane, who's smirking while shaking his head.

'Take care of her, Tyler Knight.' My eyes widen because I can hear the Moon Goddess inside my head. 'The white wolf is rare and much sought after.' Lyric. 'But the white Lycan is more precious and will have powers most can only imagine.

'For all her sacrifice and selflessness, Fenrir and I have gifted Emori our most precious child, Cosima. Watch out for her, Tyler Knight; I chose her, especially for you.'

'Thank you, Moon Goddess. Thank you, Mighty Fenrir. I won't let you down. I'll cherish her always!

'That is all we ask'

Selene's voice fades, and I shake myself out of thought. Just in time, because Emori begins to drop from the air. I rush over and catch her before she hits the ground.

I lower us to the floor, lying Emori down. I keep my hand over the back of her head. "Emori?" I stroke my hand down her cheek. The warmth is returning to her skin, bringing back her natural color.

Before my eyes, the cracks on her lips, bruises on her face, and injuries on her body disappear. Her hair becomes voluptuous, and her perfect blue eyes stare right at me.

A tear falls from my eye when Emori reaches up her hand and touches my face with her fingertips. "You're real." She whispers in wonder.

"So are you."

"Let me see her!" I growl as Lyric pulls Emori away from me, pushing me aside. "Auntie," Lyric gasps.

"Lyric!" They embrace, and I'm fighting every instinct not to tear Lyric's head off!

'Don't do that; Thane would kill us.'

'I don't give a damn, Axel!'

I clamber to my feet and snarl, causing Thane to growl at me.

"Tyler!" I turn my wide Lycan eyes to Theo. "Calm down."

I snarl again. I'm trying hard to keep Axel at bay, but it's not easy. Even though he doesn't want to pi.ss Thane off, he wants Emori. "Give me my mate!"

"Lyric!" I hear Thane snap. "Step away from Emori!"

"But..."

"No. She is newly turned by her mate. If you don't move away, he'll attack, then I'll have no choice but to kill my own brother!"

"Ty, please calm down," Starr whispers.

A hand takes mine, and with wide eyes, I turn to look at Emori. She's shorter than my six-five in height. I'd say she was around five-eight. But even Lycan females are shorter than males. Though some female warriors reach a little over six feet. I'm not sure how tall Fairies are, having not met any other than Emori. But only a few species are as tall as Lycans. Dragons, maybe.

"Please don't be angry."

I pull Emori into my arms, holding her tightly without saying anything. I press my nose into her neck, breathing in her scent, and my eyes roll.

"I think we should leave." Thorin chuckles. I don't say anything; I've waited too long for this.

'You have two hours,' I hear Thane inside my head. 'Then I want you in my office. No excuses!'

'Someone's in for it.'

'Shut up, Axel!'